Cherry Red Spencer Jacket

I was invited to a Christmas party not long after my Mom gave me this beautiful cherry red dotted velvet.  I don't know if it's cotton velvet or poly, but I don't really care what it is, it's really pretty!

Since time was short and I already knew it fit, I used the Past Patterns 1809 spencer jacket pattern.  The lining is navy blue thai silk that came from the stash. The buttons and buckle are vintage and also came from the stash.

The Christmas party was unfortunately postponed due to weather, but I'll wear the spencer tomorrow for a holiday tea in Annapolis.

The necklace is a collet necklace from Dames a la Mode: https://www.etsy.com/shop/damesalamode

Here are a few pics of the jacket on the form.

Athena's Daughters

Hey you guys - I wrote a story! Two, actually. So I thought I'd take a break from costuming to announce that...

Our Kickstarter for Silence in the Library's newest anthology, Athena's Daughters, is live! http://tinyurl.com/athenasD

I have a story in this anthology, and if you're one of the first hundred backers, you get an extra bonus story by me!

What is a Kickstarter, you ask?

A Kickstarter for an anthology is really just a way of taking pre-orders in order to have enough money to get the book printed. $5 will get you the e-book, and as we meet the stretch goals, you'll end up with a whole slew of "free" stuff just for that $5 pledge. There are all kinds of other tiers that will get you a paperback book or art prints (we have awesome artists working on this project and each story is getting illustrated). There are actually a ton of cool things to feature about this project, like the aforementioned artists, our awesome authors and the fact that we have one of only two female space shuttle commanders (Pam Melroy) writing the foreword.

Please check our Kickstarter out (you can even use your Amazon account to pay), and spread the word, if you would!

http://tinyurl.com/athenasD

Want to know more?

Silence in the Library Publishing has partnered with a host of renowned authors including names like Mary Robinette Kowal, Gail Z. Martin, Jean Rabe, Sherwood Smith, and many others in a new Kickstarter project titled Athena's Daughters.

Athena’s Daughters is a collection of short fiction from some of the best female science fiction and fantasy authors in the industry. This anthology features stories written by women about women. The introduction to the anthology is being written by retired astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander Pam Melroy.

The publisher, Silence in the Library, believes strongly in the concept of bringing the artistry back to publishing. To that end, every anthology they produce features illustrations for each and every story.

Additionally, Silence in the Library Publishing believes that any good project should contribute something to improving the human community. In keeping with that goal, a portion of every book sold will go to RAINN. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

This is only a small portion of what is waiting for you when you visit the Athena's Daughters Kickstarter project page. Please join us and become a part of the Athena's Daughter's journey by visiting http://tinyurl.com/athenasD and contributing today!

1780s "Hair" Ball

I'm terribly belated on this post, sorry!

A few weeks ago, Gloria, Mike, Amber and I went to the 1780s "Hair Ball" at Gadsbys Tavern in Alexandria, VA. We had such a fun time!

I wore my red and white striped gown, which I love and I'd only worn one other time before. I also wore my miniature of my "18th century boyfriend," courtesy of Stephanie's mom, Victorian repro star necklace, and my Sweet Romance bow/rhinestone earrings. Which you can't really see.

Halloween 2013

A few photos (I only took a few) from my friend's Halloween Party from a few weeks ago. It was low key and we got in some card games, so it was a good time. I rewore my NuTrek dress since I hadn't worn it there yet and it was easy, and Doug wore is Original Series costume which he also hadn't worn to this party. So we were both redshirts. The party broke up relatively early because we're old because we had to get up earlyish the next day for the regency Pumpkin tea, and I had to go home and put curlers in my hair. Commitment, I tell you.

Regency Pumpkin Tea

I was so glad I was able to make it to Stephanie's regency pumpkin tea this year. It was much smaller this year than last for various reasons, but that was fine. Sometimes it's fun to have lots of people and sometimes it's fun to have a small group. We had a beautiful day for it and the food was great as usual. Here are a whole bunch of photos!

I surprised my Mom with a new drawstring dress and I had made one for my friend Amber also, so we all had new gowns, which was fun!


Gloria's photo:


Gloria's photo:

Blue Block Print Gown and new shawl

Jen Thompson posted this great tutorial on putting together a really long regency shawl - I gave it a try and I'm really happy with the results!  I wore it to the pumpkin tea with my new blue block print gown!

Here's a period example of the long shawl:

My new dress!

With new shawl (pic by Gloria):

Pic by Isabella

My mom, my friend Amber and I in the dresses I made us for the tea:

Another Regency gown

As a surprise, I managed to also make my Mom a new regency gown for the Pumpkin tea! The fabric is from the stash - I think I got it from Heritage Trading on ebay.

Writing PSA

27 hours to go and less than $1000 from me having to write a story for this Kickstarter for fellow costumer/author/501st member Janine Spendlove! You also get a bonus story set in this universe by Star Wars author Aaron Allston!

Get the whole trilogy on e-book for $15!

Please check it out, or if you can't/don't want to support it financially, if you could share the link, that would be awesome!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/103879051/war-of-the-seasons-a-fantasy-trilogy-by-janine-k-s
Social media suggestions for whoever is willing to share the link below the cut!

Blue regency drawstring gown

My friend Amber has been wanting a regency dress - we started to making one together, but then the Pumpkin tea popped up and we ran low on time, so to surprise her I finished it for her this week. The fabric came, I believe, from Loren's stash.  I think it turned out pretty!

Gatsby

My mom did two little 20s paintings. The top one is of a photo from the Eight-Thirteen ball I went to - the other is from the Gatsby party I went to at DragonCon!

New regency gown!

I've had this fabric (I'm pretty sure it's from the stash of Loren from which I have gotten many great things) for a while and it's been begging me to make it into a regency dress for a while. (Actually I waffled between 18th century and regency, but regency finally won.)

So I did this (along with marathoning Season 2 of Scandal), mostly yesterday.  It was my first time attempting fancy oversleeves and I'm pretty happy with how they turned out.

Eight-Thirteen Ball

As a fundraiser, the Arlington, VA library system threw a Gatsby-era event called the Eight-Thirteen ball. Doug, Amber and I went and met Isabella, Jessica, and Kristin there. We had a blast - there was free food, great music by a live band, and 20s dancers. And lots of costumes!



 I also wore the twenties seed bead rope necklace I bought on etsy and forgot to wear at DragonCon, and the 20's-ish shoes I bought on Plasticland. They're really cute and I was really happy with them. http://www.shopplasticland.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=P30722900&Category_Code=Shoes

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It was chilly so I dug out the little velvet tassled jacket I bought a long time ago and have no place to wear.

  Here's the band:

The event was held at the Artisphere in Arlington. Later on it got super crowded:

They also had dancers come out once in a while and do choreographed 20s dances. They were so good!

 





They mysteriously had stand-ups of Edward and Jacob. We all took pics with them over the course of the night. Here's Jessica and Kristin taking their pics:







They had really good mixed drinks!

We forgot to get a shoe shot with everyone, so Doug, Amber and I did one in the parking garage.



Now a bunch of videos! Dancing in the elevators:
Dancers!